Letter to the Post no cry for help as Sophie Ralston bids to build on 2018

There will have been those who read Sophie Ralston's letter to the Racing Post, asking trainers to take a chance on her and give her more rides, as an act of desperation.

But the 26-year-old Galway native is anything but downbeat after landing the Racing Excellence Apprentice Training Series last year, and instead characterised the public appeal as part of a renewed effort to build on her best ever calendar year.

"I think I was newly motivated after Christmas and felt I had to do something different to grab people's attention," said Ralston, who still claims 7lb but has now passed the age limit to retain her apprentice status.

"It was a bit of a risk and I figured there would be a few negative comments. But I'm not on Twitter so I won't see them. I've had plenty of positive messages from friends saying 'well done', which is really nice."

Ralston has been with Epsom-based Pat Phelan since 2012 and, while she has nothing but praise for her own boss, the wider reaction in racing to her letter – published in Sunday's Racing Post and online on Saturday – has already exceeded her expectations.

"I've had one jockey say 'well done', as well as two job offers this morning, both with plenty of rides," she said on Sunday.

Ralston wrote the letter – in which she compared the opportunities for women and apprentices in racing unfavourably with those of other sportspeople that enjoy good results against established stars – after spending the holidays at home.

And while admitting that talking to her family had given her "a kick up the backside", Ralston says she was motivated by wanting to do something positive rather than merely moaning about her opportunities.

"It's never been frustrating and I'd drive to the other end of the country to ride a 100-1 shot, I've no problem with that," she said.

"I understand owners want more experienced jockeys – after all, they pay the same money for Frankie Dettori as they do for me. I just want to be as busy I can be."

Ralston's career total of 14 wins – nine of them coming in 2018 – is partly attributable to a couple of injuries that kept her on the sidelines.

"I absolutely loved 2018, when I had 128 rides and nine winners, and if I could do something similar I'd be delighted," said Ralston. "I won the apprentice training series last year and that was a goal from when I first started riding. To be able to do that in my last year as an apprentice was fantastic.

"I don't want to sound like I'm not ambitious – I love race-riding, and if I could stay injury-free that would be great too."